What does your life consist of? Daily Devotional September 20, 2009

Daily Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 3, Ezekiel 16, Luke 12

What does your life consist of?

For some people their life consists of "keeping up with the Jones." They want the fastest car, the newest computer, the best furniture for their home. And of course everyone must have a smart phone; not there's anything wrong with having a smart phone. It's a matter of priorities. Jesus said a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possesions. Luke 12:15. Jesus strongly cautioned against greed. He said "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed. This is written as a strong command. It's not just a good suggestion, something that is an option for you to do. But Jesus is saying stongly, "You do this.!!"

He then gives a parable of a man who thought only of what he owned and how to make it increase. He watched the stock market daily and evidently did well. He told himself he had plenty laid up for many, many years. All he had left to do was kick back and take life easy. He never gave a thought to what would happen when his life would end. And it was going to end that day. We don't have a promise of tomorrow.

It's not that God wants us to go through this life as paupers. But he wants us to be rich towards God first and foremost. Luke 6:45 says "The good man brings good things out of the the good stored up in his heart." What a contrast to the man in the parable who had only stored up things.

God can never be out given. He says in verse 30 of this chapter that he knows we have need of food and clothing, but if we seek his kingdom first these things will be given to us as well. Another version of scripture writes this as these things will be thrown into our lap. "My God will supply all your needs." Phil. 4:19

Jesus also said in Mark 10:29 that "no one has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, chldren and fields -- and with them persecutions) and in the age to come eternal life." (We don't like the persecution part!!)

It all boils down to what our priorities are. "For where your treasure is, there you heart will be also." Verse 33. Put God first in every facet of your life and he will direct your path and provide for you. This is not just a platitude or a nice thing to say. I have lived this for 73 years and can testify that it is true. Over and over in myriad ways God has always come through.

Check it out and prove it for yourself.

God is good all the time,
Naomi Brinkman

Tomorrow's Bible Reading - 1 Chronicles 4, Ezekiel 17, Luke 13